Polk County News
Polk County Itemizer-Observer • July 26, 2017 11A
Two-vehicle crash claims
life of Monmouth woman
Itemizer-Observer staff report
MONMOUTH — A two-
vehicle, head-on crash on
Saturday claimed the life of
Cherlyn Lewis, 57, of Mon-
mouth, on Highway 99W at
milepost 67 at about 3:54
a.m.
Oregon State Police
Troopers and emergency
personnel responded to the
crash.
Preliminary investigation
by OSP showed that Lewis
was a passenger in a red
1990 Honda Civic, driven
by Ashlee Lewis, 23, also of
EMILY MENTZER/ Itemizer-Observer file
National Night Out brings the community together. Last year’s event for Monmouth
and Independence had police officers and firefighters getting dunked by kids.
NATIONAL NIGHT OUT
Event brings together neighbors, law enforcement
By Jolene Guzman
The Itemizer-Observer
POLK COUNTY — Tues-
day is National Night Out, an
annual campaign promoting
relationships between com-
munities and their police and
fire agencies, and several
neighborhoods and groups
are hosting events around
the county.
Dallas: Neighborhood
gatherings and block parties
are taking place at Country-
wood Manor in the commu-
nity room, on Hayter Street,
on Academy Street, on Not-
tingham Lane and on Han-
kel Street, said Britneigh
Gaetz, the Dallas Police De-
partment’s police commu-
nity liaison.
“This year, our partici-
pants have put together
their events in their neigh-
borhoods, in their front
yards or community cen-
ters,” Gaetz said.
She said 20 homes will be
participating in “blue light
night.”
“They have been given
blue light bulbs to replace
on their houses for this one
night and show support for
NNO, as well as local sup-
port for the Dallas Police
Department,” she said.
Gaetz said she hopes to
see attendance at NNO
events grow this year.
“We’re hoping this brings
more people on the night of,
therefore gaining more par-
ticipants for the following
years,” she said. “It’s also a
fun way to keep our com-
munity members aware of
their local Neighborhood
Watch groups.”
Falls City: Last year, the
Falls City Fire Department
held its first NNO event,
hosting games and activities
for the public at the fire sta-
tion. This year, the depart-
ment is expanding, renting
the Community Center and
closing part of Third Street
for a block party. The event
takes place Tuesday from 5
to 9 p.m.
Representatives from Polk
County Sheriff’s Office,
Willamette Valley Commu-
nications Center 911, Life
Flight Network, and the
local Neighborhood Watch
group will be at the event to
provide information and
participate in games with
children, wrote Assistant
Fire Chief Mary Sykes in a
description of the event.
Life Flight is scheduled to
land a helicopter on the high
school football field.
“We believe that we will
receive about 100 visitors
spread out over the four
hours of the event and the
two event sites,” Sykes said.
“We strongly believe this
event will be beneficial to
the community, as well as a
lot of fun and educational.”
Sheriff Mark Garton said
he attended Falls City’s first
NNO event last year.
“This is the second year
they are doing. It was fun,”
he said. “They had all kinds
of games going on.”
Garton said Neighbor-
hood Watch groups in other
parts of the county are host-
ing events as well, including
groups on Oak Grove Road,
Salt Creek Road and Eola
and Doaks Ferry roads
neighborhood.
Monmouth and Inde-
pendence: Monmouth and
Independence police de-
partments will host a joint
National Night Out at the
First Baptist Church, 1505
Monmouth St., Independ-
ence.
The event will be from 6
to 8 p.m. on Tuesday and is
open to the entire commu-
nities of Independence and
Monmouth.
“A (National Guard) Lakota
Fair entertainment
to take center stage
Truck, tractor pull takes a year off
By Jolene Guzman
The Itemizer-Observer
Army helicopter will come and
sit there for the kids to come
crawl around on,” said Inde-
pendence Officer Eric Solberg.
Polk County Fire District
No. 1 personnel will be there
and have a fire demonstra-
tion, where kids — and
adults — can try their hands
at using a fire hose to put
out fires in a wooden cutout
structure.
Koyotes will be there for
the second year, with the
first 300 tacos free. After
that, tacos will be available
for purchase.
The event will also feature
Polk County County Emer-
gency Response Team
members dishing up sno
cones and popping corn.
McGruff the Crime Dog will
also make an appearance.
Solberg said there won’t
be a dunk tank this year for
the supervisors, but thinks
the National Guard’s Lakota
helicopter will make up for it
on the fun scale.
“It should be a good
time,” he said.
Berry were transported to
the local area hospital for
treatment of their serious
injuries.
Highway 99W was par-
tially closed for about 4.5
hours. OSP was assisted at
the scene by the Polk Coun-
ty Sheriff’s Office, Oregon
Department of Transporta-
tion and Polk County Fire
District No. 1.
This in an ongoing inves-
tigation and more informa-
tion will be released when
available, OSP stated in its
release.
Itemizer wins eight awards
Itemizer-Observer staff report
BEND — Polk County
Itemizer-Observer sports ed-
itor Lukas Eggen won Best
Sports Story for his story,
“Coming back stronger.”
The Itemizer also won
Best Web Design for the
10th year for its website,
polkio.com.
The awards were present-
ed at the Oregon Newspaper
Publishers Association’s an-
nual banquet in Bend on
July 13.
Editor Emily Mentzer
took second place for Best
Editorial with “Prepare now
for more PE”; “Looks pub-
lic, acts public: is it pub-
lic?”; and “Make the world a
better place.” Eggen came in
second for Best Sports Photo
for “Get down,” and Best
Lifestyle Coverage with his
feature on veterans fly-fish-
ing, “Casting out.”
Reporter Jolene Guzman
placed second for Best Writ-
ing for her series of stories
on the Polk County econo-
my, “Boy lives through oth-
ers,” and “Falls City helps
grad heal, grow.”
The paper won third place
for Best Page One Design for
the issues of March 9, March
16 and July 27. Guzman took
third for Best Local Column
with “Reporter prepares self,
cat for disaster,” “Emergency
plan lessons learned from
Hood to Coast,” and “Re-
porter Jolene volunteers as
guest judge.”
Solution on Page 2A
August
2017
Monmouth Area Community Events Calendar
August 2 Monmouth Music In The Park. 6:30 – 8:30 pm. Sol Seed brings
reggae music to Music In The Park. Beer & wine garden, food, and activ-
ities for the kids. Main Street Park Amphitheater, 120 Main Street E.
August 5 Monmouth Community Breakfast. 8:30 am – 10:30 am. Mon-
mouth Senior Center. 180 S. Warren St.
PCL
Partnerships in
Community Living
503-838-2403
480 E. Main St.
Monmouth
DownTown
Trends
142 Highway 99 West
503-838-1445
Monmouth
August 9 Monmouth Music In The Park. 6:30 – 8:30 pm. Cascade
Crescendo brings an evening of jamgrass and Americana to Music In The
Park. Beer & wine garden, food, and activities for the kids. Main Street
Park Amphitheater, 120 Main Street E.
August 10-12 The 2017 Polk County Annual Fair is taking place Au-
gust 10th thru the 12th. A good old fashioned county Fair with fun activities
for the entire family. Come check out the Rough Stock Rodeo Thursday
Night, the ATV Rodeo Friday night, and the KYKN Beautiful Baby Contest
Saturday morning. Take a stroll through the barns full of 4-H and FFA an-
imals. Wonder through the Main Building and see what our commercial
vendors have to offer. Catch some live entertainment on the Les Schwab
Stage including magicians and musicians. Take the kids through the
FREE Kid's Safety Zone and the selection of inflatable games and enter-
tainment. Come check out all the amazing things we have this year and
join us while we "Moo at the Moon". Fair Hours- Thursday August 10th
10:00am to 10:00pm, Friday August 11th 10:00am to 10:00pm, Saturday
August
12th
10:00am
to
10:00pm.
http://www.co.polk.or.us/fair/annual/2017-polk-county-fair
August 16 Monmouth Music In The Park. 6:30 – 8:30 pm. Root Jack
brings rock & roll to Music In The Park. Beer & wine garden, food, and
activities for the kids. Main Street Park Amphitheater, 120 Main Street E.
August 20 Dark Side of the Moon “The Great Eclipse Concert” Pink
Floyd Tribute Band: Pigs On The Wing. 8 pm - 10 pm Beer • Wine • Food
Free and Open to Public Main Street Park Amphitheater Monmouth, OR
Bring blankets, chairs and your enthusiasm for good music!
Plan on the fair
POLK COUNTY — Those
What: Polk County Fair.
looking for the entertainment
When: Aug. 10-12.
Where: Polk County
stage at the Polk County Fair
Fairgrounds & Event Cen-
will find it back in the center
ter, 520 Highway 99W,
of the action instead of in the
Rickreall.
playground area that it has
Admission: $8/adults;
occupied the last few years.
$5 for seniors and kids. $3
“We are going to move the
per car for parking.
stage back out to the middle,”
Of note: Deadlines for
said Tina Andersen, fair man-
open class submissions are
ager. “We tried to put it in the
due starting Wednesday
playground and it did not
(today) through Aug. 9.
work.”
See Page 2A for details.
The playground area will be
plenty busy, though.
Houston Dino Alive, will be set up in the playground with
its dinosaur-themed photo shop. People can have their pho-
tos taken with the dinosaur and have a T-shirts made.
Dragon Theatre Puppet Show is slated to put on shows,
such as “A Little Mermaid” presentation and hands-on activ-
ities in the playground area the entire run of the fair.
A past favorite, bingo, is back on the schedule for the fair
this year and Saturday night will feature the American Thun-
der Monster and Mega Truck Show, Andersen said.
One fair tradition will not be happening this year: the
truck and tractor pull.
Andersen said that was a decision made with the group
that puts on the event each year, following a leadership
change on that organization.
“I think that they will eventually come back,” Andersen
said. “They are just reorganizing.”
Monmouth. They were
traveling southbound on
Highway 99W delivering
papers, according to re-
ports from OSP. A blue 2008
Toyota Corolla, operated by
Joshua Berry, 20, was
northbound on Highway
99W, when, for an undeter-
mined reason, the vehicles
collided on the northbound
shoulder, the report from
OSP states.
Cherlyn Lewis suffered
fatal injuries and was pro-
nounced deceased at the
scene. Ashlee Lewis and
August 21 Enjoy the Solar Eclipse! Be Safe!
355 N Pacific Ave.,
Ste A
Monmouth
503-838-4268
Serving Polk County
Since 1875
503-623-2373
Solar
Eclipse
Aug. 21
August 23 Monmouth Music In The Park. 6:30 – 8:30 pm. Dina y Los
Rumberos brings Cuban salsa to Music In The Park. Beer & wine garden,
food, and activities for the kids. Main Street Park Amphitheater, 120 Main
Street E.
August 30 Monmouth Music In The Park. 6:30 – 8:30 pm. Coming Up
Threes brings Celtic music to Music In The Park. Beer & wine garden,
food, and activities for the kids. Main Street Park Amphitheater, 120 Main
Street E.
www.windermere.com
503-838-1141
297 N Pacific
Monmouth
800-732-0173
464 S Pacific Hwy
Monmouth
oregonstatecu.
Saving
Carpets
Daily
Carpet Hero
503-838-0869
Monmouth
LOOKING
FOR RENTALS?
297½ N. Pacific Hwy
503-838-1278
Western View
Properties
Property Management, LLC
August Forum — August 9
Polk County Service Club
340 S 3rd Street, Independence
Topic: Polk County Update
Lunch: $12.00 boxed lunch from BG’s BBQ
• Lunch orders must be received by noon 8/8/17.
• Fee incurred unless cancelation received via email
to micc@micc-or.org by noon 8/8/17.
503-838-2951
165 E. Main St.
Monmouth
Thirsty Thursday — August 17
Thirsty Thursdays are held the third Thursday of
each month from 5:30 PM to 7:00 PM at member
locations. Registration is requested to help the
host site properly prepare. Attendees are
encouraged to bring a small giveaway (less than
$10) to promote your business or organization. This month August
— Emerson Vineyards 11665 Airlie Rd., Monmouth.
503-838-1773
410 E. Main St.
Monmouth
To advertise in this calendar call Heidi at the Itemizer-Observer 503-623-2373 ext 115